Speed camera changes where family shops

For the most part our family has oriented our commerce based on where we live and work, namely, Olney. I have always driven down Georgia Avenue to conduct our family business. I now drive miles out of my way to avoid Georgia in Olney because of the speed camera at 17700 Georgia.

In my 50-plus years of life I have received two speeding tickets. I am now the recipient of five speed camera tickets at said location. My husband received two. We received the tickets in a one-week period in August; we were unaware there was a speed camera in force there.

Every ticket was issued at the same location. Every picture on these tickets shows my brake lights on. There is a one-tenth mile distance between the 30 and the 45 mph signs. The speed limit signs are all overgrown and hidden by tree branches and leaves.

The camera is located at a point where traffic is compressed and drivers are compelled to do their best to move along and keep moving out of the way.

The fire station is just down the road and on one of the ticket occasions I was just trying to get out of the way of a motorist who had no clue there was a fire truck coming up behind us. The other occasions included a trip to the indoor pool for my daughter; a trip to the guitar lesson for my other daughter; individual trips to the bank I no longer hold my account at and the Giant I no longer shop at because of their proximity to the speed camera.

I have taken my family's business elsewhere because of the speed camera at 17700 Georgia.

It is not a matter of slowing down. I have a 30-year history of driving with two speeding tickets to show for it — until now. The odds are on my side when it comes to labeling me a speeder — or not.

After receiving notice of the first two tickets, I set my car's cruise control for the area. I received the three additional tickets anyway. Apparently, no effort is good enough to avoid this outcome because the area in question is so ill-defined.

Which brings us to this: This speed camera is an act of aggression against the citizens of this community by virtue of its unsuitable placement and of its hidden and ill-defined nature.

If slowing cars were the impetus for these cameras, they would be in the open on clear stretches of road with defined speed limits. Instead, this camera not only puts additional burdens on safe driving conduct because of its multiple changes in speed zones in a very compressed distance, it assures traffic tie-ups resulting in frustration and fender-benders.

Our officials are unwilling to live within the budgets we agreed to provide them to conduct our business. They resort to the subterfuge of an undeclared tax via speed cameras to feed their need for more revenue without asking for it honestly. If you want more taxes, be honest enough to say that out loud instead of grabbing at my pockets while I'm behind the wheel trying to get on with life.